Politically Incorrect Science
During my recent visits to local bookstores, I've come across Tom Bethell's recent book The Politically Incorrect Guide to Science, which claims to expose many of the myths that surround the scientific field. Bethell claims that science has been hijacked by certain political cliques to push their own agendas onto society at large.
I was particularly interested in his chapters concerning cloning, stem cell research, and genetic engineering in general. Bethell utterly annihilates the commonly held notion that these developments are the key to mankind's future, and how man has now supposedly conquered nature. Interesting, since most public discussions on these issues try to present the issue purely as one of ethics vs. science. Yet in reality, it's more complex. Many scientists are skeptical of the miraculous possibilities of such.
I've always been interested in exposing the eugenics agenda that pushes forward these developments, and countering the knee-jerk responses by supporters to any form of criticism. Just carrying on the banner from where G.K. Chesterton left off with his 1922 book Eugneics and Other Evils. Bethell now gives us anti-eugenicists actual scientific data in which to defeat its supporters on their own ground.
The chapter dealing with the supposed myth of Christianity vs. science was also interesting. Much of the information presented I already knew(for example no educated person since the third century B.C. believed the world was flat, all the Church fathers believed it was round) but it was still interesting nevertheless. The notion of science vs. Religion is largely a 19th century invention.
The chapter dealing with Intelligent design vs. evolution was also of some interest. I already put forth my basic view concerning this issue, namely that my general sympathies were with the Intelligent Design camp but that I was not a strict adherent to it.
So yes, I highly recommend this book. It exposes the agendas behind scientific "advancements" that only serve to the moral fabric of our society.
I was particularly interested in his chapters concerning cloning, stem cell research, and genetic engineering in general. Bethell utterly annihilates the commonly held notion that these developments are the key to mankind's future, and how man has now supposedly conquered nature. Interesting, since most public discussions on these issues try to present the issue purely as one of ethics vs. science. Yet in reality, it's more complex. Many scientists are skeptical of the miraculous possibilities of such.
I've always been interested in exposing the eugenics agenda that pushes forward these developments, and countering the knee-jerk responses by supporters to any form of criticism. Just carrying on the banner from where G.K. Chesterton left off with his 1922 book Eugneics and Other Evils. Bethell now gives us anti-eugenicists actual scientific data in which to defeat its supporters on their own ground.
The chapter dealing with the supposed myth of Christianity vs. science was also interesting. Much of the information presented I already knew(for example no educated person since the third century B.C. believed the world was flat, all the Church fathers believed it was round) but it was still interesting nevertheless. The notion of science vs. Religion is largely a 19th century invention.
The chapter dealing with Intelligent design vs. evolution was also of some interest. I already put forth my basic view concerning this issue, namely that my general sympathies were with the Intelligent Design camp but that I was not a strict adherent to it.
So yes, I highly recommend this book. It exposes the agendas behind scientific "advancements" that only serve to the moral fabric of our society.
posted by Perun at
7:31 PM
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